Faith Odhiambo’s decision to step down as vice chair of the government-appointed Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests has stirred wide discussion within Kenya’s legal and civic circles.
Her resignation comes after weeks of public and professional pressure questioning her involvement in a government-led initiative that some critics felt compromised the independence of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which she currently leads.
In her statement, Odhiambo said she had tendered her “formal and immediate resignation” to the Head of Public Service, explaining that her decision was motivated by the need to protect the unity and autonomy of the LSK.
She said that recent legal and constitutional challenges surrounding the panel made it necessary to take a step back and allow the society to focus on its core mission.
The panel, which was created through a Kenya Gazette notice dated August 25, was formed to look into ways of compensating victims of police brutality during last year’s and this year’s anti-government demonstrations.
These protests, largely youth-driven, resulted in the deaths of more than 120 people and left hundreds injured. Odhiambo said she initially accepted the appointment because she saw it as an opportunity to reform Kenya’s weak institutional systems dealing with victims’ reparations, which she described as “inadequate in addressing historic crises of police overreach.”
However, she noted that the High Court’s decision last month to suspend the panel’s operations had made it impossible to fulfill its 120-day mandate.
“As things stand, the time-bound mandate of the panel has been stopped by our courts, and the proposed tenure is likely to lapse before the matter is resolved,” she said. “Victims continue to reach out to me in total frustration over when their requests for an audience with the panel will be honoured.”
Odhiambo stated that instead of remaining on a suspended panel, she would redirect her energy through the LSK, which is already representing victims in various cases related to police brutality.
“Our team of advocates is already in court in Kisumu for one of the cases involving victims of police excesses,” she said. “We will seek the Judiciary’s intervention to expedite these matters to a conclusion.”
She added that the LSK would continue identifying unreported cases, advocating for quicker judicial processes, and pushing Parliament to enhance legal protections for demonstrators and victims of state violence.
“We must treat reparations for victims with the same seriousness with which we treat repercussions for perpetrators. May justice remain our shield and defender,” she said.
Odhiambo’s appointment had earlier drawn heavy criticism from civil rights groups and sections of the public, many of whom viewed her acceptance as a contradiction of her past advocacy work.
She had been one of the loudest voices against police excesses and was known for defending families of youths who disappeared or were detained during the protests.
During her swearing-in on September 4, she had defended her decision to join the panel, saying, “I have in no way betrayed your trust. Access to criminal justice remains critical to me in our quest to promote and protect the rule of law as an essential element in the enjoyment of the fundamental human rights and freedoms.”
Her resignation now marks a turning point for the LSK, as it reclaims its place as a strong defender of human rights and accountability.
It also signals Odhiambo’s resolve to continue her fight for justice from within the legal community, without the constraints of government influence.
